After outlasting the University of Santo Tomas in their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 semifinal bout, the Ateneo Men’s Football Team (AMFT) returns to the grandest stage in collegiate football. This Finals preview will discuss the campaign of the Blue Eagles as they aim to bring back the crown to Loyala Heights.
IN A much-anticipated return, Head Coach JP Merida’s selection books another Finals slot in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Football tournament. Aiming to avenge their Season 85 Finals loss, this year’s attack-hungry veterans, alongside eager fresh faces, have a chance at redemption—claiming the UAAP throne under the bright lights of Rizal.
Following a gritty 2-1 semifinal win against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Booters, Ateneo aims to close this year’s fiery campaign with their final bout against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws.
In the last two years, the Blue Eagles absorbed two exits by the Morayta-based squad: their 1-4 Finals loss against FEU in Season 85 and their 1-2 defeat during last year’s semifinals. Nonetheless, this year’s unit sets horizons anew, unveiling a turn-around in the offensive end with Team Captain Leo Maquiling, Dov Cariño, and stand-out rookies.
As the number one team in the UAAP standings, this brazen unit hopes to achieve what they last brought home during Season 81—bringing home the crown once more to the Ateneo.
Countering counters
Caleb: With its blazing wingers at the offensive helm, the Tamaraws boast one of the best, if not the best, counter-attacking schemes in the league. Throughout its gradual ascent in the latter half of the season, the Morayta-based side has banked on the familiar formula to overwhelm different coverages.
The Tamaraws thrive in luring opposing frontlines deep into the attacking third to generate sufficient openings for rapid counters. While possession-heavy teams may have the upper hand at the outset, they only play to FEU’s advantage. Against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in their semifinal bout, the Tamaraws relied on the ever-reliable tactic to outmaneuver the defending champion’s ball-control heavy play.
True to their counterparts’ lethal form, all Ateneo’s conceded goals against the Tamaraws this season have come from quick counters. The elimination round meetings saw the Morayta-based squad spurring frenetic runs off the transition as the Blue and White swarmed the attacking zones. With ample space to operate, FEU’s Khent Valenzuela and Ace Ermita willfully blitzed past the Blue Eagles’ defensive frontiers.
As the first line of defense in disrupting build-up plays, Ateneo’s midfield will be pivotal in halting FEU’s brewing counters. Proving to be a reliable force on both ends of the pitch, Joaquin Collo and Marcus Arias have shown all season long that their midfield command can provide a defensive cushion for the Blue Eagles. The rookies’ deft interceptions and on-ball versatility have frustrated opposing incursions and allowed the Ateneo frontline to rapidly retaliate within the area.
Also crucial in mitigating formational gaps are defenders Oswald Santilices, Jet Dela Cruz, Jethro Flores, and Javier Bengson, whose man-marking prowess and transition coverages have stifled offensive ploys. For Santilices and Dela Cruz, their tenacity and herculean tackles within the box have made life difficult for prowling strikers. Meanwhile, for Bengson and Flores, their ability to match opposing wingers’ pace off the transition has been instrumental in closing the gaps and negating swift counters.
As the Blue and White ventures deep into the attacking third, it remains imperative that the Katipunan-based side is reminded that a momentary tactical lapse is all it takes for the Tamaraws to capitalize and impose their offensive will. With Ateneo’s sights set on glory, I am confident that a well-rounded and formidable game plan will emerge out of Coach JP Merida’s side.
Clutch catalysts
Lyza: As the Ateneo Blue Eagles take the pitch for the season’s defining match, their championship ambitions rest beyond the star power of Cariño and Maquiling. Ateneo’s ascent has likewise been propelled by players like Dela Cruz, Collo, and Galen Fernandez—whose precision, composure, and clutch performances in critical moments have driven the Blue Eagles to the cusp of glory.
Dela Cruz has been a linchpin for Ateneo this season, effortlessly balancing his defensive responsibilities with a flair for offensive impact. Renowned for his composure under pressure, the center-back’s ability to score imperative goals has made him an indispensable asset to the team.
In the semifinals against UST, Dela Cruz demonstrated his knack for decisive play, netting a clinical game-winning goal to secure Ateneo’s place in the Finals. Such a moment was emblematic of his season-long brilliance, which also included a commanding brace in Ateneo’s resounding 4-1 victory over De La Salle University.
With his aerial prowess on set pieces and unyielding defensive authority, Dela Cruz epitomizes the qualities of a complete player.
Meanwhile, Collo has emerged as a crucial architect of Ateneo’s attacking strategy, positioning himself as a key figure heading into the Finals. The midfielder’s ability to deliver defining plays—exemplified by his perfectly weighted assist and composed goal in Ateneo’s shutout win against their Taft-based rivals—will be instrumental in breaking down even the most organized Tamaraw defenses.
Collo’s impact also extends beyond his playmaking, highlighted by his late-game goal against UST in the elimination round and a volleyed strike against the University of the East Red Warriors later in the season—both featuring his aptness to seize opportunities with precision and intent. The Atenean rookie’s skill in reading the game, exploiting defensive gaps, and delivering pinpoint passes will be fundamental in the Blue and White’s pursuit of the championship.
In the midfield, Fernandez stands as a driving force, propelling Ateneo’s transitions from defense to attack with purpose and control. The Atenean veteran’s ability to dictate the tempo and shine in defining moments has been a hallmark of his season, a quality that will be pivotal in the Finals.
Among Fernandez’s standout performances was a late strike in the 81st minute to secure a 2-1 win over FEU and a composed finish against Adamson University in the second-round opener—testaments to his instinct for stepping up when the stakes are highest.
Moreover, Fernandez’s fluid connection with Cariño and Collo has been central to Ateneo’s offensive rhythm, a dynamic needed in dismantling the opposition’s backline. Beyond his scoring contributions, Fernandez has proven that his command of the midfield can shape the flow of play, providing the stability and ingenuity Ateneo will need to claim the league title.
As the Finals loom, I am confident that Dela Cruz, Collo, and Fernandez will anchor Ateneo’s charge toward glory. With Dela Cruz’s commanding presence, Collo’s incisive playmaking, and Fernandez’s orchestration of the midfield, their synergy and brilliance could very well tip the scales in the Blue Eagles’ favor.
Battle of brawn
Moss: If there is any game that clouds my thoughts with slight angst, it would be whenever the Blue and White clash against FEU. Ateneo is undoubtedly the better squad this season, with the number one overall seed and consistent offense on display. Yet, if there is a team that can act as a kryptonite to Atenean tactics, it’s the third-seeded FEU who batter their opponents ‘till exhaustion.
The Loyola Heights-based squad has sprung up two laudable performances against FEU, and the Morayta-based rivals have threatened each game with forays from the defense. Consistently, they have posed potent risks to the team’s system, displaying potential perils in tomorrow’s match-up.
In the first-round battle against the Green and Gold, the Blue Eagles came out victorious with a 2-1 scoring. That said, as mentioned by Caleb, this battle was far from a glimpse to what the Tamaraw defensive third can pull off in transition.
FEU defender Valenzuela showed his prowess with a header past Cezar during a counter-attack in the first half. Nonetheless, the team managed to complete a spectacular come-from-behind victory, courtesy of goals from seasoned veterans Cariño and Fernandez.
However, during their second-round 0-1 loss, it was clear that Ateneo were far less lucky, as they succumbed to the aggressive sequences of Head Coach Roman Oliver’s unit. Confronting copious rough-housing from the opposition, defenders Valenzuela and Ace Amita of FEU connected to reap the sole goal of the second game. This time, the Blue Eagles were unable to bypass the Tamaraws’ fullback alongside goalie Allan Diansuy’s shot-stopping theatrics.
Thus, looking at the possibility of false backs controlling the scoring on top of FEU’s aggressive playing style, Coach JP Merida will have to orchestrate defensive strategies that will put their opposition in a cold corner.
Nonetheless, with Co-Captains Cezar and Dela Cruz elevating their brilliant defensive performances, the Blue Eagles can channel a match-up that brings each unit’s fullbacks toe-to-toe. Provided that the likes of Maquiling, Cariño, and rookies Collo and Lim find their rhythm on the attacking third, there is no way this Season 87 ends without the trophy at the hands of the Blue and White.
Redemption in Rizal
Luis: With last Sunday’s semifinal results, the stage is set for the third installment of the Ateneo-FEU postseason trilogy this decade. However, eagle-eyed fans are sure to know that this rivalry on the pitch goes back to the pre-pandemic era. Since 2017, the Blue Eagles and Tamaraws have faced off in the playoffs four times in the last five seasons, with tomorrow night’s game being the fifth time in six.
The stakes are always high when these two collegiate powerhouses square off, and a lot of history lies in these squads’ heated encounters. Back in Season 79, it was Jarvey Gayoso’s 39th-minute goal that clinched Ateneo’s seventh championship over FEU, while a clutch strike from the same player at the 80-minute mark sent the Blue Eagles to the Finals in Season 81.
Almost half a decade removed from their King Eagle’s stint with the Blue and White, new heroes will certainly emerge to break the deadlock between the Ateneo-FEU playoff saga.
In the post-pandemic era, the Blue Eagles have yet to surmount the aggressive Tamaraw side. However, with experienced co-captains Maquiling, Cezar, and Dela Cruz at the forefront, along with the sheer excellence of Cariño, this season is certainly Ateneo’s best shot at etching their names in UAAP history. If they manage to capture it all tomorrow, best believe that it will be their names that we will look back to years from now.
Without a doubt, avid fans of the AMFT will be more than thrilled to see the latest installment in this storied rivalry. If recent matches are to be learned from, Ateneo should be ready for a much more physical FEU side in this evening’s bout. Although the Blue Eagles should always keep their tried-and-tested game plan in mind, it would not hurt at all to match the Tamaraws’ no-nonsense intensity on the pitch.
In the end, this is the final chance for the squad’s beloved seniors to reach the pinnacle of collegiate football, and if all the stars align, then there is no doubt that Ateneo will hoist trophy number nine at the end of tomorrow’s 90 minutes in Rizal.
Tonight’s game:
Sunday, December 15, 5:00 PM, vs. FEU Tamaraws at the Rizal Memorial Stadium
Finals:
- ATENEO Blue Eagles vs. 3. FEU Tamaraws
